Jeremy Swayman contract remains best option for Bruins despite stalemate and NHL trade rumors | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The Boston Bruins will begin their regular season next Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, and restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract. This is unlikely to change in the near future.

If anything, the gap between Swayman and Boston could widen. Cam Neely, president of hockey operations, made a blunt statement Monday about the goaltender's reluctance that probably didn't sit well with the 25-year-old.

“Today’s press conference talked about $64 million,” he said posted on social media. “This was the first time this figure was discussed in our negotiations. No offer of this amount was made before the press conference.”

According to Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli, the $64 million figure is actually believed to be inaccurate.

“My understanding is that the Bruins offered $7.8 million over eight years, which is $62.4 million,” Seravalli said Cuppa hockey tomorrow. “…I believe the Swayman camp was asking for something in the region of eight times $8.5 million.”

If Seravalli is right, the gap between Boston's offer and Swayman's request isn't huge. However, it exists, and the goaltending camp may not be willing to compromise following Neely's decision to release the numbers. It could also be a trade request, although Gross didn't go that far in his statement:

“We will take a few days to discuss what happens next.”

The Bruins should also take some time to reassess the situation. Neely's comments give the impression that $8 million per year is as much as Boston is willing to pay. The team needs to reconsider this stance, as the alternatives are to continue to hold out Swayman and put him on the trade market – although the team reportedly doesn't want to do that.

“Two weeks ago I heard rumors of a possible trade,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote on Sept. 30. “The Bruins didn't want to comment, but it was clear they told teams they weren't thinking about it and wanted to keep him.”

The Bruins certainly don't want to have a strained relationship with their longtime No. 1 goaltender, and if things develop that way, they could become more open to a deal with him.

However, trading Swayman would be far from the best option. First, Joonas Korpisalo, acquired in the Linus Ullmark trade, and the unproven Brandon Bussi would be Boston's best options.

Second, it would be difficult for the Bruins to get fair value in a trade. Boston got a first-round pick, Korpisalo and Mark Kastelic for Ullmark, who is just over five years older than Swayman. The restricted free agent is worth a bigger package, but teams won't offer one because his contract situation is still unclear.

According to Friedman, Swayman wanted to stay in Boston. Therefore, the goalie could view his $8.5 million per year demand as a discount for his hometown. Friedman reported in early September that Swayman was eyeing the $9.5 million that defenseman Charlie McAvoy makes annually.

“I also heard that the McAvoy contract was in demand,” Friedman said in his commentary 32 thoughts Podcast (h/t Colin McCarthy of Boston.com).

Any demand between $8.5 million and $9.5 million would be difficult to meet. Boston is one of only six teams with more than $8 million in remaining cap space. Even if a trading partner is found among the other five, no one will pay a premium to take on an ongoing contract crisis.

And even though Boston has Swayman under team control for two more years, the longer he refuses to take the ice, the less leverage the Bruins will have in trade negotiations.

Of course, they don't want to overpay, but getting Swayman back into the team – if not by the first game, then at the start of the season – should be a top priority. If it takes hitting the $64 million figure or slightly more to mend the proverbial fence, then so be it.

Boston is coming off a 47-win season and should be able to make another run. However, returning to the playoffs without Swayman will be a challenge. Losing him for a lower return would be a downright disaster.